Micro controlled classification yard

Abstract

A modular control system for a railroad classification yard is described. The control system can automatically perform those functions necessary to control the various elements of a railroad classification yard to enable the train of cars to be switched from a hump track to one of a plurality of bowl tracks in accordance with the destination for the car. The control system comprises a number of subsystems including a hump control system (HUMPCON), an operator communications subsystem (OPCOM), a switching control subsystem (MASC), a retarder control subsystem (MARC), a multidrop communications system (MDCOM), a crest monitor subsystem (CMON) and a distance to couple subsystem (MADTC). Some of the subsystems are implemented as singular modules (HCON, OPCOM, CMON). Other subsystems include multiple modules (MARC, MASC, MDCOM). Each module in each subsystem is comprised of a single microprocessor and related peripheral circuits. Data identifying each of the cars to be humped, and the required destination track is provided by OPCOM to HCON. The HCON module tracks the cars as they travel through the yard and maintains a data base indicating control system performance. HCON transfers data to other modules as required via MDCOM. In addition, as information is acquired from other modules, the data base is enlarged to record this information. At the conclusion of switching for a particular car or cut, the resulting data, termed "cut statistics" is transferred to OPCOM for hard copy printout.

We claim: 
     
       1. A control system for a railroad classification yard including a hump track, a master retarder located in said hump track, a plurality of group tracks connected to said hump track by track switches, each said group track including a group retarder, and a plurality of bowl tracks connected to said group tracks by track switches, said control system comprising: (a) a hump control module including a microprocessor and related peripheral circuits;   (b) an operator communication module coupled to said hump control module, including a microprocessor and related peripheral circuits for transferring information to said hump control module;   (c) a retarder control subsystem including a retarder control module for each of said retarders, each said module including a microprocessor and related peripheral circuits;   (d) a switching control subsystem including a separate switch control module for each group of said track switches, each said module including a microprocessor and related peripheral circuits;   (e) a crest monitor module including a microprocessor and related peripheral circuits for generating information respecting characteristics and performance of a railroad car or cars traversing a crest of said hump;   (f) a communication subsystem comprising a plurality of communication modules for respectively interconnecting said hump control module with said crest monitor module, each of said retarder control modules and each of said switch control modules; each of said communication modules comprising a microprocessor and dedicated communication link.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said hump control module maintains a data base including: axle count data, weight data and destination track information.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 which said hump control module maintains a data base including: axle count data, weight data and destination track data in the form of:   a multi-entry car work block for each car,   a multi-entry cut work block for each cut.   
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 2 or 3 in which: said crest monitor module generates data for said data base and transmits said data to said hump control module.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 which said operator communication module transmits destination track data to said hump control module for said data base. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said hump control module tracks travel of a car and transmits portions of said data base to switch and retarder control modules. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said hump control module includes means responsive to a cut reaching a predetermined location for clearing associated car and cut work blocks and transmitting data contained therein to said operator control module. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes a distance to couple module for measuring free distances on said bowl tracks and reporting to said hump control module. 
     
     
       9. A control system for a railroad classification yard including a hump track, a master retarder located in said hump traok, a plurality of group tracks connected to said hump track by track switches, each said group track including a group retarder, and a plurality of bowl tracks connected to said group tracks by track switches, said control system comprising: (a) a hump control module for maintaining a data base respecting railroad cars traversing said yard, transferring and receiving information respecting railroad car position and performance, said hump control module comprising a microprocessor and related peripheral circuits;   (b) an operator communication module coupled to said hump control module, said operator communication module including at least one peripheral circuits for reception of information and a microprocessor responsive to said peripheral circuits for transferring at least some of said information to said hump control module;   (c) a retarder control subsystem including a retarder control module for each of said retarders, each of said retarder control modules including a microprocessor and associated peripheral circuits;   (d) a crest monitor module including a microprocessor and related peripheral circuits for generating information respecting a particular RR car or cars then traversing a crest of said hump;   (e) a comnunication subsystem comprising a plurality of communication modules for respectively interconnecting said hump control module with said crest monitor module and each of said retarder control modules; each of said communication modules including a microprocessor and a dedicated communication link.   
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which said data base includes: axle count data and weight data.   
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 9 in which said data base includes: axle count data and weight data in the form of:   a multi-entry car work block for each car,   a multi-entry cut work block for each cut.   
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 9 or 10 in which: said crest monitor module generates data for said data base and transmits said data to said hump control module.   
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which said hump control module tracks travel of a car and transmits portions of said data base to one of said retarder control modules. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13 in which said hump control module includes means responsive to a cut reaching a predetermined location for clearing associated car and cut work blocks and transmitting data contained therein to said operator communication module. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 9 which further includes a distance to couple module for measuring free distances on said bowl track and reporting to said hump control module. 
     
     
       16. A control system for a railroad classification yard including a hump track, a master retarder located in said hump track, a plurality of group tracks connected to said hump track by track switches, each said group track including a group retarder, and a plurality of bowl tracks connected to said group tracks by track switches, said control system comprising: (a) a hump control module for maintaining a data base respecting railroad cars traversing said yard, transferring and receiving information respecting railroad car position and performance, said hump control module comprising a microprocessor and related peripheral circuits;   (b) an operator communication module coupled to said hump control module, said operator communication module including at least one peripheral circuits for reception of information and a microprocessor responsive to said peripheral circuits for transferring at least some of said information to said hump control module;   (c) a retarder control subsystem including a retarder control module for each of said retarders, each of said retarder control modules including a microprocessor and associated peripheral circuits;   (d) a switching control subsystem including a separate switch control module for each group of said switches, each of said switch control modules including a microprocessor and related peripheral circuits;   (e) a crest monitor module including a microprocessor and related peripheral circuits for generating inforamtion respecting a particular railroad car or cars then traversing a crest of said hump;   (f) a communication subsystem comprising a plurality of communication modules for respectively interconnecting said hump control module with said crest monitor module, each of said retarder control modules and each of said switch control modules; each of said communication modules including a microprocessor and a dedicated communication link.   
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 16 in which said data base includes: axle count data, weight data and destination track information.   
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 16 in which said data base includes: axle count data, weight data and destination track data in the form of:   a multi-entry car work block for each car,   a multi-entry cut work block for each cut.   
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 17 or 18 in which: said crest monitor module generates data for said data base and transmits said data to said hump control module.   
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 19 in which said operator communication module transmits destination track data to said hump control module for said data base. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 20 in which said hump control module tracks travel of a car and transmits portions of said data base to switch and retarder control modules. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim 18 in which said hump control module includes means responsive to a cut reaching a predetermined location for clearing associated car and cut work blocks and transmitting data contained therein to said operator communication module. 
     
     
       23. A control system for railroad classification yard including a hump track, a master retarder located in said hump track, a plurality of group tracks connected to said hump track by track switches, each said group track including a group retarder, and a plurality of bowl tracks connected to said group tracks by track switches, said control system comprising: base a. a hump control module for maintaining a data base respecting railroad cars traversing said yard, transferring and receiving information respecting railroad car position and performance, said hump control module comprising a hump control microprocessor and related peripheral circuits, said hump control microprocessor located on a printed circuit board,   b. an operator communication module coupled to said hump control module, said operator communication module including at least one peripheral circuits for reception of information and an OPCOM microprocessor responsive to said peripheral circuits for transferring at least some of said information to said hump control module; said operator communication module including said OPCOM microprocessor located on a printed circuit board,   c. a retarder control subsystem including a retarder control module for each of said retarders, each of said retarder control modules including a MARC microprocessor and associated peripheral circuits, said MARC microprocessor located on a printed circuit board,   d. a crest monitor module including a CMON microprocessor and related peripheral circuits for generating information respecting a particular railroad car or cars, then traversing a crest of said hump, said CMON microprocessor located on a printed circuit board, and   e. a communication subsystem comprised of a plurality of communication modules for respectively interconnecting said hump control module with said crest monitor module and each of said retarder control modules, each of said communication modules including a MDCOM microprocessor and a dedicated communication link between said hump control module and at least one other module; each of said MDCOM microprocessors associated with said communication modules located on a printed circuit board, wherein   f. said printed circuit board in said retarder control subsystem, communications subsystem and crest monitor module are identical.   
     
     
       24. The apparatus of claim 23 which further includes: a switching control subsystem including a switching control module for each group of said switches, each of said switching control modules including a MASC microprocessor and associated peripheral circuits, said MASC microprocessor located on a printed circuit board.   
     
     
       25. The apparatus of claim 24 in which said printed circuit board in said switching control subsystem is identical to the printed circuit boards in said retarder control subsystem. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of claim 23 in which said data base includes: axle count data, weight data and destination track information.   
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 23 in which said data base includes: axle count data, weight data and destination track data in the form of:   a multi-entry car work block for each car,   a multi-entry cut work block for each cut.   
     
     
       28. The apparatus of claim 26 or 27 in which: said crest monitor module generates data for said data base and transmits said data to said hump control module.   
     
     
       29. The apparatus of claim 28 in which said operator communication module transmits destination track data to said hump control module for said data base. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of claim 29 in which said hump control module tracks travel of a car and transmits portions of said data base to switch and retarder control modules. 
     
     
       31. The apparatus of claim 27 in which said hump control module includes means responsive to a cut reaching a predetermined location for clearing associated car and cut work blocks and transmitting data contained therein to said operator control module. 
     
     
       32. The system of claim 1 or 16 or 24 in which said communications subsystem includes: a first communication module interconnecting said hump control module with said crest monitor module and said switch control modules, in which said crest monitor module and said switch control modules are coupled in parallel, and   a second communication module interconnecting said hump control module with said retarder control modules.